Ga. Senate OKs Youth Concussion Bill

The Georgia Senate has approved a bill that would require young athletes to be pulled from games and medically examined if they suffer a suspected concussion.

Senators voted 49-3 Tuesday to pass the bill, which would require those who have suffered a concussion to be cleared by a medical professional before returning to play. It earlier passed the House.

The legislation would require primary and secondary schools to create a policy intended to minimize serious injuries from concussions, including distributing to parents an information sheet describing the risks of concussions and head injuries.

Most states have adopted rules similar to Washington state, which set a national standard in 2009 with a law named for a 16-year-old who suffered a life-threatening brain injury after returning to play football after a concussion.